CT Launches $9.1 Million Expansion Project for Real Art Ways

ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF HOUSE AND MAYOR OF HARTFORD, THE CREATIVE HUB WON A GAME-CHANGING GRANT.

Nestled in the heart of Parkville, non-profit arts center Real Art Ways has been awarded a $9.1 million grant by the state of Connecticut, thanks to its Community Investment Fund program. 

Announced on November 8, Governor Ned Lamont, Speaker of House Matt Ritter and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin joined RAW Executive Director Will K. Wilkins and Board Chair Gregg Rohde to reveal the expansion project. The creative hub will undergo an entire renovation during the summer of 2024, equipping the innovative space with three movie theaters, allowing for Real Art Ways to grow its roster of independent movies. Further, the non-profit’s gallery spaces will receive an upgrade, accompanying a new performance space and café. Also known for its impactful educational programs, the grant will also enable Real Ways to offer more opportunities and expand upon its existing initiatives, such as Park Art, Film Field Trips and Eye on Video, providing both youth and adults with invaluable cultural experiences.

“Real Art Ways has been a vital force in our community. It is a convener, it is a center for creativity, a center for community. It's one of the few places in the city where everybody feels at home. That is one of the things that is most beautiful about Real Art Ways and most important about its legacy over the years,” Mayor Bronin shares in an exclusive press release.

Take an inside look at a rendering of the new Real Art Ways below.